For those that missed it, last year we suffered through the first H1N1 outbreaks in the World. Chile survived. One of the best things the country did was make the antivirals nation wide and free for anyone. Chile's health ministry took a give the antiviral and ask questions later approach, assuming that by the time a test would come back positive it would be too late and valuable time and public resources would be waisted on the test. They told the entire country if you have three symptoms, go to the doctor and the medicine is free. I recall that after the first few weeks they basically modified that to prescribe the drugs to anyone that came through the door with a fever. The government also gave more than a bit of economic incentive to do it by making mandatory doctors notes for days off work easier for anyone to get during the crisis. Obviously, any Chilean who got the sniffles took full advantage of the paid vacation. I don't think anyone in the international media will put that 1+1=100 together when it comes to containing an outbreak. PAY PEOPLE TO STAY HOME!!!!
Well now, the follow up number crunching is proving that it worked:
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/ho ... comes.html
What scares me is that many "developed" countries are doing the stick their head in the sand and wait, along with the traditional fear of leaving work for sick days will raise your insurance rates, get you canceled, get you fired, and so on. When the second wave comes, I predict everyone is going to look to Chile for what to do and not do.


